The sheer volume of books, magazines, DVDs and online resources that offer people insights in knowing Christ and living a Christian life can be overwhelming.
Baptists, known as “people of the Book,” are quick to acknowledge the Bible as our basic and most important spiritual resource. Do we need help understanding and applying God’s Word to our lives? Beyond what we learn at church or in Bible study groups, are there other resources that can help us?
Ken Owens, director of the Collegiate Ministry Group for the South Carolina Baptist Convention, offers some book recommendations that have helped him: “Crazy Love,” by Francis Chan; “The Insanity of God,” by Nik Ripken; “Questioning Evangelism,” by Randy Newman; “Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity,” by Mark Batterson; “The Character of Leadership,” by Jeff Iorg; and “College Ministry in a Post-Modern Culture,” by Stephen Lutz.
David Blizzard, pastor of Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, also offers some suggestions: “The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: The Bertha Smith Story” (DVD); “How to Worship Jesus Christ,” by Joseph S. Carroll; “50 Christians Everyone Should Know,” by Warren Wiersbe; and “The Cross in the Shadow of the Crescent,” by Erwin Lutzer. He added that “every pastor should read ‘Chosen by God,’ by R.C. Sproul, and ‘A Journey in Grace,’ by Richard Belcher.”
David Parks, associate executive director of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, stated that although his first choice, “The Training of the Twelve” by A.B. Bruce, was written in 1871, “this is still one of the best and most influential books I’ve ever seen. It is a must.” Other suggestions included: “Knowing God,” by J.I. Packer; “The Master Plan of Discipleship,” by Robert Coleman; “Basic Christianity,” by John R.W. Stott; “Lord, Teach Us to Pray,” by Andrew Murray; “The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives,” by Dallas Willard; “Conformed to His Image,” by Kenneth Boa; and “Read the Bible for Life,” by George Guthrie.
Tim Clark, pastor of Holly Springs Baptist Church near Inman, gives “How to Begin the Christian Life,” by George Sweeting, to new Christians. Other books he has found helpful to himself and others are: “Our God Is Awesome,” by Tony Evans; “Saved Without a Doubt,” by John MacArthur; and “Out of the Salt Shaker & Into the World,” by Rebecca Manley Pippert.
Several pastors and associate pastors mentioned “The Purpose Driven Life,” by Rick Warren; “Mere Christianity,” by C.S. Lewis; “The Pursuit of Holiness,” by Jerry Bridges; “Radical,” by David Platt (the new president of the International Mission Board); commentaries by John MacArthur and Warren
Wiersbe, and the “New American Commentaries.” Parks mentioned the value in reading old sermons and biographies and autobiographies “on giants of the faith.”
The top selling books at LifeWay Christian Resources for 2013 included: “Jesus Calling,” by Sarah Young; “Happy, Happy, Happy,” by Phil Robertson; “Follow Me,” by David Platt; “Not a Fan,” by Kyle Idleman; “You’ll Get Through This,” by Max Lucado; “Whispers of Hope,” by Beth Moore; “Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples,” by Francis Chan and Mark Beuving; “Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved,” by J.D. Greear; “All In,” by Mark Batterson; “God Is Able,” by Priscilla Shirer; and “What Are You Afraid Of? Facing Down Your Fears With Faith,” by David Jeremiah.
Christianity Today recommended 10 books in 10 categories. These choices by the CT judges target books “most likely to shape evangelical thought, life, and culture.” The book of the year for 2014, as chosen by the staff of Christianity Today, is “God’s Forever Family: The Jesus People Movement in America,” by Larry Eskridge. It was also the top choice in the history/biography category.
The nine other categories were:
Apologetics and Evangelism: “Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense,” by Francis Spufford
Biblical Studies: “Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study,” by Constantine R. Campbell
Christianity and Culture: “The World Is Not Ours to Save: Finding the Freedom to Do Good,” by Tyler Wigg-Stevenson
Christian Living: “Eat With Joy: Redeeming God’s Gift of Food,” by Rachel Marie Stone
The Church/Pastoral Leadership: “Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists,” by Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
Fiction: “The Sky Beneath My Feet,” by Lisa Samson
Missions/Global Affairs: “Understanding Christian Mission: Participation in Suffering and Glory,” by Scott W. Sunquist
Spirituality: “Death by Living: Life Is Meant to Be Spent,” by N.D. Wilson
Theology/Ethics: “The Mystery of God: Theology for Knowing the Unknowable,” by Steven D. Boyer and Christopher A. Hall
Her•meneutics (a new category relating to women’s interests): “Troubled Minds: Mental Illness and the Church’s Mission,” by Amy Simpson.
Most pastors and teachers we talked to agreed that a Bible dictionary, a concordance, and some good commentaries are basic to the library of anyone who is seeking to be a good student of the Word. Logos software appears to be the choice for those who prefer a large library available on their particular electronic device.